Christie "Not Ready" for 2012 Run

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: New York Governor David Paterson (L) speaks with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at Ground Zero during the annual memorial service September 11, 2010 in New York City. People gathered at the World Trade Center site to mark the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. (Photo by Brigitte Stelzer-Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Paterson;Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who’s captured the imagination of conservatives enthralled by his fiscal maneuvers to cut spending, said on Wednesday that any talk of him seeking the Republican presidential nomination is premature because he’s “not ready.”

Appearing on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Christie was told by one of the hosts that “I have to believe you feel that if you ran for president, you could probably do some good.”

“I’m not ready,” Christie responded. “I’m not.”

Christie said there were two key criteria for any politician who wants to run for president, neither of which he meets.

“First, you have to have – in your heart – you gotta want it more than anything else,” Christie said. “I don't want it that badly.”

“Secondly, you gotta believe in your heart that you are ready to walk into the Oval Office and to lead the nation. And I don’t feel like I’m ready,” he continued. “So, it makes it very easy for me. I’m 0-2. So, you don’t do it.”